Who can write a professional reference letter?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

Before you agree to write a professional reference letter for someone, take some time to consider whether you can provide a compelling and personalized account of your relationship and experiences with the applicant. You should only write a professional reference letter for someone if one or more of the following situations applies:

You've worked closely alongside or supervised the applicant, or the applicant supervised you
You have plenty of experience (and therefore examples) of the applicant's work style and impact on results
You're aware of the applicant's relevant strengths and qualifications that they hope to highlight
You can speak positively about the applicant without lying

At the end of the day, if you can't provide a reference letter that helps the candidate land the job, it's in everyone's best interest to decline the applicant's request. Just be sure to tell this individual right away once you decide that you can or cannot write the letter, because drafting a list of professional references is sometimes a time-sensitive matter.